FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 21, 2005
SECULAR FRANCISCANS KICK OFF NATIONAL GATHERING
MUNDELEIN, ILL., Sept. 21 -- Soft uplifting music greeted some 80 Catholic Secular Franciscan leaders from around the U.S. as they entered the chapel at University of St. Mary of the Lake Conference Center in Mundelein, Illinois, just outside Chicago. It helped set the mood for the start of the annual national gathering of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States, taking place Sept. 21-25.
As the music in the chapel faded, National Councilor and Youth Commission Chair Kathy Taormina addressed the assembly, quoting St. Clare of Assisi:
"Transform your entire being into the image of the Godhead...through contemplation."
Several minutes of silence followed, allowing the delegates and observers to contemplate why they were there -- to represent over 17,000 Secular Franciscans and to look at ways to foster the life of an Order that professes Gospel living in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.
After that morning contemplative prayer, the day continued with the business portion of the annual gathering, with reports from national officers, committees and commissions. The rest of the week includes a focus on spiritual formation, plus geographic breakouts, where leaders from five major areas of the country tackle issues and challenges facing them, and work on plans for spurring the life and growth of the Order.
Also attending is the leader of the American Anglican/Episcopal secular Franciscans, known as the Third Order Society of St. Francis.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 21, 2005
FRANCISCANS FOCUS ON PRAYER OF THE HEART
MUNDELEIN, ILL., Sept. 21 -- Monastic prayer is prayer of the head, whereas Franciscan prayer is prayer of the heart.
Noting that distinction, Teresa Baker began an on-going formation session for some 80 delegates and observers at the national gathering of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States, being held Sept. 21-25 at University of St. Mary of the Lake.
Baker, who co-chairs the Order's National Formation Team with Anne Mulqueen, pointed out that monastic prayer stresses the ascending Christ -- "He leads us up…Contemplation begins here and finds fulfillment in heaven…Contemplation is constantly seeking the presence of the divine…putting things of the world aside (in an environment such as a monastery or cloister)."
But St. Francis of Assisi saw the world as his cloister, she noted.
"Franciscans see an imminent God," immersed in creation, she explained.
"Franciscan prayer of the heart requires that we be with the Lord in friendship…Friendship requires that we go out to the other" -- just as Francis reached out in a defining moment when he overcame his fears and embraced a leper.
"Who," she asked, "is the leper in your life?"
Baker encouraged the assembly to look within themselves to see what needs to be changed in order to be in friendship, in union with God.
She concluded her presentation by pointing out another difference in perspectives -- the monastic approach sees the soul journeying TOWARD God (in Latin, "ad Deum"); but Franciscans, as expressed by St. Bonaventure, recognize the journey of the soul INTO God (itinerarium mentis in Deum).
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 21, 2005
SECULAR FRANCISCANS PRAY FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS & EVACUEES
MUNDELEIN, ILL., Sept. 21 -- Prayers for the victims of hurricanes took on an urgent note at the opening of the national gathering of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States Tuesday (Sept. 21).
A regional leader representing the Hurricane Katrina-struck Gulf States suddenly left to return home to Texas to participate in the evacuation for Hurricane Rita.
In his budget report, National Treasurer Dennis Ross reported the National Council sent $1,000 to Catholic Charities for Hurricane Katrina relief, and prior to that, with donations from fraternities from around the country, he sent $20,000 to Catholic Relief Service for tsunami relief in South Asia and another $2,000 for aid to Sudan refugees.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 22, 2005
SILENT PRAYER REFRESHES, BUT IT'S NOT FOR WIMPS
MUNDELEIN, ILL., Sept. 21 -- Since Secular Franciscans are a friendly and outgoing group, they can "have trouble with silence," National Formation Co-chair Anne Mulqueen told some 80 delegates and observers at the national gathering of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States.
"We need silence, we need contemplation to be refreshed," she reminded the assembly, in an on-going formation session that opened the second full day of the gathering. "When you contemplate, when you go into the silent space, you must go through yourself, and everything is illuminated."
However, she noted, "it's not for wimps" because "when you go into the silence of your own heart, God will show you the truth."
That's where poverty of spirit helps, she added. "The more attachments we have, the less able we are to pray. True poverty of spirit sets us free."
Mulqueen pointed to St. Clare of Assisi as a prayer template. Follow her example, she urged, by gazing on Christ and meditating on the Crib (poverty), the Cross (suffering) and the Eucharist (humility).
Daily prayer and silence, she said, allow us to see "who we truly are", and help propel us to "seek to be like Christ."
Seeking to be like Christ, she explained, means bringing Christ to life by reflecting Christ's face to the world. "That is our ministry."
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 22, 2005
GEOGRAPHIC MEETINGS PRODUCE DOZENS OF SUGGESTIONS FOR LOCAL AND REGIONAL FRATERNITIES
MUNDELEIN, ILL., Sept. 22 -- Some 80 regional ministers and others of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States met in geographic sessions and then in Open Forum at the National Gathering held in Mundelein, Ill. Their purpose was to discuss regional and national issues and, whenever possible, to suggest plans of action.
Their meetings and the open forum produced a variety of ideas to help resolve or improve situations. Among them are:
ISSUE: Concern over the rising average age of SFO members
RESPONSE: Recruiting
ISSUE: The quality of fraternity life
RESPONSES:
ISSUE: Finances
RESPONSE: Bequests
Invite a CPA to talk to fraternities about wills and bequests. Establish the fact that the SFO is part of the family and could be remembered in one's will.
ISSUE: Declining number of friars and other religious to serve as Spiritual Assistants
RESPONSE: Promote the Life-Giving Union course to recruit Spiritual Assistants from among SFO members.
ISSUE: Greater communication needed among regions
RESPONSE:
ISSUE: Presence in dioceses
RESPONSE:
ISSUE: SFOs wearing the brown robe as a habit rather than the Tau cross
RESPONSE:
ISSUE: SFO groups in prisons
RESPONSE: Bringing the spirituality of Francis to prisoners should be promoted. If a prisoner has a true vocation and desire, he/she can pursue it once he/she leaves prison.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Bob and Mary Stronach, SFO, 315-796-9284
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 23, 2005
SAN DAMIANO CRUCIFIX IS FOCUS FOR FORMATION LESSON
MUNDELEIN, ILL., Sept. 23 -- Formation training on the third day of the national gathering of the Secular Franciscan Order took the form of a meditation on the San Damiano Crucifix (the Byzantine-style cross that St. Francis prayed before in Assisi).
Step by step, Teresa Baker, SFO, national formation co-chair, took some 80 regional ministers and observers on a guided tour of the crucifix.
The black bar, she explained, represents the cross Christ died on, and the gold square, the tomb. Jesus is not wearing the crown of thorns as a suffering Christ, but rather the halo. His white linen loin cloth is the garment of the high priest, of the resurrected Christ.
With eyes wide open and knees straight, it is not the vision of a suffering Christ, she said, but rather one who stands strong. Blood is fresh and bursting with new life.
The San Damiano Crucifix, which stands 7 feet tall and 5 feet wide, tells the story of St. John's Gospel. It holds numerous characters. At his side are Christ's mother, Mary, John the Apostle, Mary Magdalene, Mary (the wife of Cleopas), and a centurion assumed to be the Roman guard who declared at the death of Jesus, "Truly, this man is the son of God."
To the side, there is a small head, presumably the face of the iconographer. Also on the cross is the guard who pierced the side of Jesus with a lance, plus a Temple guard.
Near Jesus' knee sits a rooster, reminiscent of St. Peter's denial of Jesus and that we, too, at any moment may deny Jesus, Baker explained.
Also, on the base of the cross are patron saints of Assisi -- St. Michael the Archangel, St. George, St. Ruffino, St. Damian, St. John the Baptist, and St. Peter.
At the top of the cross are the heads of the other apostles (excluding Judas). The ascended Jesus is seen holding the cross as a scepter.
And, finally, above all is the hand of God, blessing all that happens in the crucifix.
Once the tour was completed, Baker asked the assembly to contemplate the San Damiano Cross from the point of view of one of the characters. Small group discussions followed and provided an appreciation of the most well-known Franciscan icon.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Bob and Mary Stronach, SFO, 315-796-9284
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 23, 2005
EASTERN RITE FRATERNITIES JOINING U.S. SECULAR FRANCISCAN REGIONS
MUNDELEIN, ILL., Sept. 23 -- Secular Franciscan Fraternities of the Eastern Rite Churches have been part of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States under the non-geographic Exultation of the Holy Cross Region, since 1993.
A national assembly of the Secular Franciscan Order, meeting in Mundelein, IL from Sept. 21 to 25, voted to transfer the Eastern Rite Fraternities into four regular geographic regions. The transition was formally requested by Eastern Rite Secular Franciscan leaders to better accommodate the local needs of their fraternities.
"This is a transition. We're simply moving to another street," noted Edward Pane, SFO, Exultation of the Holy Cross Region's transition leader. "Byzantine spirituality is part of the texture and color of the fabric of our Franciscan spirituality, and it shall continue."
Those regions welcoming the Eastern Rite fraternities are: St. Maximilian Kolbe (covering most of the northern half of Ohio), St. Thomas More (covering Arizona and southern Nevada), Lady Poverty (covering most of the western half of Pennsylvania, most of West Virginia, far western Maryland and far eastern Ohio), and St. Katharine Drexel (covering Delaware and parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey).
In a brief candle-lighting ceremony, Pane ignited candles held by representatives of those four geographic regions, and then blew out the flame of his own candle.
"The bond is unbroken, and the flame has been passed," declared National Vice Minister John Sanborn, SFO.
The SFO is a Catholic order of married and single people who strive to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.
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